Recent cougar encounters across Washington state

These recent stories highlight cougar encounters in Washington state. They range from sightings to attacks and rescues.

An orphaned mountain lion cub was rescued by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The cub displayed a "spicy" personality despite its early hardships.

Meanwhile, a cougar sighting near Pierce County schools prompted a modified lockdown.

Lastly, two rescued cubs, Sullivan and Sienna, made their debut at a wildlife park in Pierce County.

An orphaned mountain lion cub is recovering at a Washington wildlife rescue facility after he was found malnourished in the wild, officials said.

NO. 1: WATCH ORPHANED MOUNTAIN LION CUB WITH ‘SPICY’ PERSONALITY RECOVER AT WA PARK

“He is zesty. You go, you spicy little dude!” | Published April 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger

An elusive apex predator was spotted in Washington for the first time in over a year, state transportation officials said.

NO. 2: APEX PREDATOR SPOTTED IN WASHINGTON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2024. ‘JAWS DROP’

“That looks like a big one.” | Published June 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger

One of the two rescued cougar cubs making their public debut at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park near Tacoma, Washington.

NO. 3: BONDED COUGAR CUBS ARE READY FOR ‘NEXT CHAPTER’ AT WASHINGTON WILDLIFE PARK

The cubs will share an outdoor exhibit starting today near Tacoma. | Published July 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Don Sweeney

A summer camp worker was attacked by a mountain lion (not the one pictured) east of Hyampom, officials said.

NO. 4: MOUNTAIN LION ATTACKS CHILD ON POPULAR TRAIL IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

Park officials say they “dispatched” the animal, and there were no current threats to the public. | Published July 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shea Johnson

NO. 5: WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SEE A MOUNTAIN LION ON A WASHINGTON HIKE? FOLLOW THESE TIPS

A cougar recently attacked a 4-year-old child in Olympic National Park. | Published July 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sarah Linn

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NO. 6: STUDENTS KEPT INDOORS AFTER COUGAR SPOTTED NEAR PIERCE COUNTY SCHOOLS TUESDAY

A cougar was spotted in the area of Kopachuck Middle School and Voyager Elementary, putting the schools on a modified lockdown, the Peninsula School District told parents in a ParentSquare alert Tuesday afternoon. | Published September 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Julia Park

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.